Second child dies after parents turn to prayer instead of doctors

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia couple serving years’ probation for the 2009 death of their toddler after they turned to prayer instead of doctors has been arrested for violating their probation after another one of their children died.

According to the Associated Press, Herbert and Catherine Schaible’s 8-month-old boy died last week after suffering from diarrhea and breathing problems for a number of days. The Schaible’s did not seek medical attention for their son because they belong to a fundamentalist Christian church that believes in faith-healing.

Philadelphia Judge Benjamin Lerner said at a hearing that the Schaible’s violated the most important condition of their probation: to seek medical care for their remaining children.

Authorities are yet to filed criminal charges for the 8-month-old’s death, but could do so after pinpointing how the baby died.

The couple was put on probation after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 2011 in the death of their 2-year-old son, Kent, who died due to pneumonia.